Promoting Plant Genetic Conservation Based on case study entitled : “Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under The Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Responded by Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (RSPG-EGAT)” Authored by : Sukanda Ekompitak, from Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) for Asia Regional Forum on Biodiversity, Cha-am, Thailand, November 2011 Humans and other organisms heavily depend on plants for food. Biodiversity creates a wild plant gene pool that adds to the narrow genetic base of established food crops. This helps produce new varieties which are resistant to pests and diseases and ensure improved productivity. However, “between 1960 and 2000, the demand for ecosystem services grew significantly as the world’s population doubled to six billion people,” according to the 2005 UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Rapid population growth has led to a change from traditional to intensive agricultural systems. People now live longer and child mortality is lower. The stress on existing resources for food has intensified. Of the 7,000 species of plants which have been domesticated over the 10,000- year history of agriculture, only 30 account for 90 per cent of all the food that humans eat every day. Data from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show that in recent decades, there has been alarming genetic erosion within plant species. About three-quarters of the varietal genetic diversity of agricultural crops have been lost over the last century. Many wild strains of staple food crops are endangered. For example, one quarter of all wild potato species are predicted to die within 50 years, making it difficult for future plant breeders to ensure that commercial varieties can cope with a changing climate. The possibility of one-fourth of species becoming extinct looms as a result of widespread habitat changes brought by mankind. 44 THE ASIA REGIONAL FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY Plant Genetic Conservation in Thailand In Thailand, there are notable initiatives to conserve plant genetic resources. In 1961, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej started conserving Dipterocarpus alatus, an endangered tropical forest tree found in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. It is a very important source of construction timber. His Majesty the King also created a demonstration forest which is home to a collection of various plant varieties from all regions of Thailand. The forest was established within his residence, the Chitralada Palace, for students to study. In 1985, His Majesty the King ordered the conservation of the jackfruit in the Grand Palace. In vitro conservation is used to preserve the unique characteristics of plants. In 1988, the conservation and propagation of rattans (Calamus sp.) was started in the Royal Development Study Center. These initiatives form part of the Royal Chitralada Agricultural Projects which include a diverse range of activities for experimentation and research purposes, aimed at solving various problems related to agriculture. Successful projects are used for demonstration purposes. The demo projects are opened to the general public so that they could visit and study them, as well as make use of the knowledge gained. In implementing these projects, emphasis is placed on His Majesty the King’s “Sufficiency Economy” mantra. Under this principle, villagers are encouraged to become self-sufficient and improve their long-term quality of life.
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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